House to hear Alaska Native bills

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2002

Alaska Native leaders are testifying today before a House committee on various bills.

Chief among them is one to allow Native veterans of the Vietnam War to apply for 160-acre allotments. Many were serving when a 1971 deadline passed to select lands.

The bill is being opposed by the state's Sierra Club, which considers it a land grab. The lands used to belong to Natives prior to the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971.

The other bills under discussion focus on a land transfer to Cook Inlet Region Inc., an Alaska Native corporation, and co-management of public lands.

The hearing starts at 11 a.m. A live audio link will be at http://resourcesaudio.house.gov/1324.

Get the Story:
Native vets ask for land (The Anchorage Daily News 6/5)
Young proposes Alaska Natives control some park, refuge jobs (AP 6/4)

Get the Bills:
H.R.3048, A bill to resolve the claims of Cook Inlet Region, Inc., to lands adjacent to the Russian River in the State of Alaska; H.R.3148, A bill to amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to provide equitable treatment of Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans; H.R.4734, A bill to expand Alaska Native contracting of Federal land management functions and activities and to promote hiring of Alaska Natives by the Federal Government within the State of Alaska, and for other purposes.

Related Stories:
Alaska Native allotment bill filed (5/29)
Native allotment bill awaits signature (12/22)
Native Vets bill passes House (10/13)